Prologue I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII
Day 10 - Monday 8/26
Chris and Paige have morning class only on Monday. I bought a frozen microwave 3-cheese omelette just to relieve Chris of one morning ritual. He DID prepare a salad the previous night.
I eat greens, lettuce and tomato usually 3 times per day, usually after the meal. He also tossed in some walnuts that I got from Cosco. Walnuts are supposed to be good for...uh...something according to Dr. Oz and WebMD.
Chris wasn't relieved of ALL morning rituals. He's still holds the position of CAW.
An RN from Interim Home Healthcare finally lined up a 2 pm appointment to do "pin care", and to and do paperwork.
Afterwards Paige and I walked the 6 blocks to Duffy's, downtown WPB at Olive and Clematis. Meanwhile, Chris and Jamie picked up Jamie's two kids (Brook, 17; Nian, 13) and we all enjoyed late lunch with 40% off before 4 pm. I forgot to take photos!
I had a NY strip sirloin, half of which will be tomorrow's lunch.
Jamie's lovely work involves cleaning/repairing/relining sewer lines...the big ones like city and county, not homes. Lots of crazy-sounding procedures.
Think about it...if a large sewer pipe is being relined, all the pipes that normally flow into it must be blocked. But sewage and rainwater keeps going into them. Not too pretty when they fill and sh** flows loose on the streets - or worse - backs up out of sinks and toilets.
Jamie drives a "vactor" truck to different manholes, sucks out the waste, then empties the truck into functioning sewers.
Here're photos from a 2011 job downtown Lake Worth. I drove his son to see what Dad does for a living - and to bring lunch.
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| Assembling pipe - depends on sewer depth |
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| Setting pipe upright into sewer |
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| The vactor truck sucks up water from sewer - later to be drained into other sewers that are functioning. That's my "tenant", Ariel, in the foreground. |
Stupid Day in the Schubrain
Stupid comes in threes.
#1 Stupid: Earlier in the day, before lunch, one of Chris' brothers needed to take driving test, and would use Paige's car (newer,smaller, easier handling) but there was issue of paperwork since it was transferred from Michigan registration. I offered my car and registration, completely forgetting Rule #1 about law officers and vehicles. The three drove to my car, parked at my house. Paige and the brother continued in my car to DMV, while Chris visited Jamie at my house.
Then Paige called me. No one cares about registration. How about insurance? Not in glove. Not in my wallet. (I still don't know why.) Paige called Chris to bring HER car out to the DMV. Meanwhile, I phoned insurance company who - after long hold time and many questions - amazingly agreed to fax info to DMV.
PS: Chris' brother messed up the 3 point turn!
PPS: What fool doesn't know Rule #1 about law officers and vehicles? "License, Registration, and Proof of Insurance, please"
#2 Stupid: Walking back from Duffy's lunch, Paige asked if I had my phone, which she usually carries. Tapping my wrapped hand to my pocket, I felt the familiar solid rectangular shape of my phone.
Impossibly...10 minutes later in the condo...I couldn't find it. I pondered how I could have been so sure of possession on the walk home and concluded that the plaster splint under my right wrist could mimic the familiar pressure of a phone when I tapped my pocket.
And so I promptly forgot Rule #1 of losing your cell phone.
Abridged version: call Duffy's. No phone. OMG! Didn't we tip enough?!! OMG! So many new numbers related to medical. Called Jamie for ride to pickup prescription at Walgreen's and...stop by Duffy's. Maybe they'll take pity. Dining guests there stepped out of booth we had occupied while manager searched.
Finally...Jaime gets the call from Paige. She has my phone. It slipped out of my pocket when I sat in overstuffed recliner just after getting home.
Lost Cell Phone Rule #1: Use ANOTHER PHONE TO DIAL THE DAMN NUMBER!
#3 Stupid: After Jamie took me to Duffy's, we went to Walgreens to pick up my prescription for Ambien, granted through Dr. Saslow when I phoned the office begging for something to help me sleep. Then we stopped at Publix. After shopping, Jamie was at the passenger door packing groceries into my bag while I stepped back to let a driver into his car.
Jamie dropped me at the condo, where I unpacked my bag. Later I realized I had not seen the Ambien, and - totally forgetting Rule #1 about not finding things where they should be - I figured that when Jamie transferred groceries to my bag, he failed to include the prescription - a small, clear bag that I left on the floor. Maybe it had slid under the seat.
I phoned, no answer. Texted. Nothing.
Later that evening he called and agreed to go search his truck. Not there, and he says he put it in my bag. Paige - overhearing this phone conversation - went into my room and returned with the ambien, validating Rule #1 about not finding things where they ought to be - LOOK AGAIN!
Oh... Someone just told me what those walnuts (advocated by Dr. Oz) are good for.... they improve memory.
I'm happy to report - typing this on day 14 - there have been no repeats of Stupid Day in the SchuBrain.
Day 11 - Tuesday 8/27
Angela's first day to change my dressings.
I spent a lot of day in bed or on computer. It rained a lot.
We had dinner out at Bistro in the Marriott near Kravis. $25 off from Restaurant.com
Chris had fish chowder and Hogfish snapper, I had small bites grilled fish with eggplant and spinach and grilled vegetables. Paige ate crabcakes and grilled asparagus.
Day 12 - Wednesday 8/28
Chris and Paige had morning classes.
I did computer work, and eventually got picked up by Jaime to go to Muvico. Ariel still works there once a week, which gives him privilege to walk 1 or 2 friends into the theater free on an off-day during non-peak hours.
We wanted to see Woody Allen's Blue Jasmine, but the projector broke and we settled on We're the Millers - despite missing 10 minutes. Who cares? It was free. Funnier than we expected, though lots of crude humor.
I was back at condo in time for Angela's second visit. She was good-spirited and efficient as the first time - a good LPN.
We went to Palm Beach Fedco, returning a razor I bought there, then to PB Publix for dinner extras. Then to ABC liquor where I was advised that tea with honey and lemon tossed into some brandy and shot down was a traditional knock-out!
After dinner of turkeytacos tortillas, I eventually tried the Brandy lights-out recipe.
Day 13 - Thursday 8/29
Angela - the home care nurse - visited early, giving me time to ....
...
wait for it...
....
....
...
yes,
school!
(No, it is NOT my heroin!)
Twenty years ago I designed our school's data bank for issuing lockers to students. It requires once-a-year maintenance and no one else really knows it yet.
My friend Jamie gave me a ride there.
They moved "my" school laptop to an office near Mr. Seepersaud...the Assistant Principal "really" in charge of textbooks, and the guy who gets blamed when I mess up.
I spent three hours and accomplished a lot. Things should be ready to go later next week.
A secretary that I;ve known for 20 years, Terry Brosseit, gave me a ride home.
Chris and Paige would leave soon for class. I napped, I think.
Ate a sugar-free Klondike bar.
Had my first TV session. Bored after 45 minutes. Then walked at 7:30 pm to Publix. Shopped. Got Advil after recommendation from Brad who ran into me at Publix and who used it after a week of constipating pain killers that followed major back surgery.
Late dinner cooked by Chris and Paige was Chicken in white sauce with spinach.
Day 14 - Friday 8/30
I got a shower in the morning.
My brother, Jody, drove me to NPB office of Dr. Saslow. X-rays show good alignment.
Removed stitches on right palm but not left.
He made a solid cast on right side, I think to help me use it.
Back in 6 days Sept 5 for stitches I guess. Six more weeks still for external fixator.
Jamie dropped me at the condo, where I unpacked my bag. Later I realized I had not seen the Ambien, and - totally forgetting Rule #1 about not finding things where they should be - I figured that when Jamie transferred groceries to my bag, he failed to include the prescription - a small, clear bag that I left on the floor. Maybe it had slid under the seat.
I phoned, no answer. Texted. Nothing.
Later that evening he called and agreed to go search his truck. Not there, and he says he put it in my bag. Paige - overhearing this phone conversation - went into my room and returned with the ambien, validating Rule #1 about not finding things where they ought to be - LOOK AGAIN!
Oh... Someone just told me what those walnuts (advocated by Dr. Oz) are good for.... they improve memory.
I'm happy to report - typing this on day 14 - there have been no repeats of Stupid Day in the SchuBrain.
Day 11 - Tuesday 8/27
Angela's first day to change my dressings.
I spent a lot of day in bed or on computer. It rained a lot.We had dinner out at Bistro in the Marriott near Kravis. $25 off from Restaurant.com
Chris had fish chowder and Hogfish snapper, I had small bites grilled fish with eggplant and spinach and grilled vegetables. Paige ate crabcakes and grilled asparagus.
Chris and Paige had morning classes.
I did computer work, and eventually got picked up by Jaime to go to Muvico. Ariel still works there once a week, which gives him privilege to walk 1 or 2 friends into the theater free on an off-day during non-peak hours.
We wanted to see Woody Allen's Blue Jasmine, but the projector broke and we settled on We're the Millers - despite missing 10 minutes. Who cares? It was free. Funnier than we expected, though lots of crude humor.
I was back at condo in time for Angela's second visit. She was good-spirited and efficient as the first time - a good LPN.
We went to Palm Beach Fedco, returning a razor I bought there, then to PB Publix for dinner extras. Then to ABC liquor where I was advised that tea with honey and lemon tossed into some brandy and shot down was a traditional knock-out!
After dinner of turkey
 |
| Sleepytime tea with honey and a shot of Brandy - woke up thirsty after an hour and a half. |
Day 13 - Thursday 8/29
Angela - the home care nurse - visited early, giving me time to ....
...
wait for it...
....
....
...
yes,
school!
(No, it is NOT my heroin!)
Twenty years ago I designed our school's data bank for issuing lockers to students. It requires once-a-year maintenance and no one else really knows it yet.
My friend Jamie gave me a ride there.
They moved "my" school laptop to an office near Mr. Seepersaud...the Assistant Principal "really" in charge of textbooks, and the guy who gets blamed when I mess up.
I spent three hours and accomplished a lot. Things should be ready to go later next week.
A secretary that I;ve known for 20 years, Terry Brosseit, gave me a ride home.
Chris and Paige would leave soon for class. I napped, I think.
Ate a sugar-free Klondike bar.
Had my first TV session. Bored after 45 minutes. Then walked at 7:30 pm to Publix. Shopped. Got Advil after recommendation from Brad who ran into me at Publix and who used it after a week of constipating pain killers that followed major back surgery.
Late dinner cooked by Chris and Paige was Chicken in white sauce with spinach.
Day 14 - Friday 8/30
I got a shower in the morning.
My brother, Jody, drove me to NPB office of Dr. Saslow. X-rays show good alignment.
Removed stitches on right palm but not left.
He made a solid cast on right side, I think to help me use it.
Back in 6 days Sept 5 for stitches I guess. Six more weeks still for external fixator.
Next, Jody drove me to Palm Springs to Dr. Navarro
All facial stitched out.
When we arrived in office, a $35 co-pay was requested. While I pondered credit or debit, my brother - who could make a living of medical law - questioned why $35 was needed when I'm only 2 weeks out of surgery. The person at the desk quickly acknowledged, muttered something about automated billing, and voila ... $35 saved. Later, they got their money anyway: $63.55 for 20 g of "bioCorneum" scar cream.
Jody tells me copays are not permitted for 90-days post op. Makes you wonder.
Before returning me home, we stopped at Jody and Linda's house for 5 large, beautiful mangoes from his tree that was just cut back.
Back home, napped briefly.
Chris and Paige drove me to Darcy Hall, the nursing home where my mom is. They allwed me to take a little saline, gauze, tape, and an ace bandage. AND, now with no stitches in my face, I saw my mom for first time in 2 weeks. She hardly registered any problem or concern about me or my obviously disabled wrists. She just wanted coffee.
We shopped at PB Publix, where I finally filled prescription for Percoset. Dinner tonight prepared mostly by Paige was delicious: Shrimp and white bean salad ... with some of that mango. Home-made vinaigrette. And some us (me for one) drank some (cheap) red wine.
Prologue I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII
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